Underwoodisaurus milii or Thick tailed Gecko

The thick tailed gecko inhabits many environments including wet and dry sclerophyll forest, open grasslands, scrubland and even desert, particularly those areas associated with rock outcrops. It is found in south-east Queensland, and extends down over much of southern Australia except the far southeast and southwest. It is often found in backyards, sheltering under logs and rocks.Its scientific name (Underwoodisaurus) isn't referring to where this gecko likes to shelter. Rather, it is named after a Mr Underwood, with Underwoodisaurus meaning 'Underwood's lizard'.

If threatened, the Thick tailed Gecko raises itself up on its skinny legs, waves its tail from side to side and lunges at the threat producing a croaky barking sound at the same time, hence its other common name of barking gecko. As with other geckos, only two eggs are produced at a time, usually in spring or early summer. Several clutches may be produced during good seasons, with about a month's interval between each. The eggs incubate for approximately two and a half months before they hatch.

Did you know...

The thick tailed gecko has a scientific name (Underwoodisaurus) that isn't referring to where this gecko likes to shelter.

The thick tailed gecko is named after a Mr Underwood, with Underwoodisaurus meaning 'Underwood's lizard'.

Thick tailed gecko raises itself up on its skinny legs when threatened, waves its tail from side to side and lunges at the threat producing a croaky barking sound at the same time, hence its other common name of barking gecko.

Range of Thick tailed Gecko in Australia:

The thick tailed gecko is often found in backyards, sheltering under logs and rocks.

Saltuarius cornutus or Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko

The Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko lives in rainforests in Queensland's wet topics around Cooktown. During the day the Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko shelter under peeling bark and in crevices. This is one of Australia's largest geckoes, growing up to 22 cm long.

The patterning of the Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko allows them to blend in perfectly with the lichen- and moss-covered tree trunks they inhabit. The female will dig a nest in the soil, lay two eggs, and then cover the eggs over with dirt and leaves. Females will sometimes lay multiple clutches of eggs per season, and many females have been found laying their eggs in a communal nest.

The body of this gecko is very prickly, but their tail is very soft, almost like velvet. As will all geckoes, Leaf-tails are able to drop their tail if they feel feel threatened, for example, by a potential predator. They can then regrow their tail, though the regenerated appendage is generally smaller and of a different texture and pattern. If the predator manages to eat the tail, they will be rewarded with a meal that is very high in fat.

Did you know...

The northern leaf-tail gecko lives in rainforests in Queensland's wet tropics around Cairns and Cooktown.

Their patterning allows them to blend in perfectly with the lichen- and moss-covered tree trunks they inhabit.

The body of this gecko is very prickly, but their tail is very soft, almost like velvet.

As with all geckoes, leaf-tails are able to drop their tail if they feel feel threatened. They can then regrow their tail, athough the regenerated appendage is generally smaller and of a different texture and pattern.

Where Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko dwell in Australia:

The Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko is one of Australia's largest geckoes, growing up to 22 cm long.

Nephrurus wheeleri or the Knob-tailed Gecko

Banded knob-tailed geckos are one of the most spectacular and sought-after of the knob-tailed gecko group.

Knob-tailed Gecko are found in the Pilbara and Murchison regions of Western Australia.

Knob-tailed Gecko species has been known to scrape a slight hole in the ground, settle into the depression, and then cover itself with loose soil. This might be to keep warm, or it might be a way of concealing themselves.

Where to find Banded Knob-tailed Gecko in Australia:

Banded knob-tailed gecko eat invertebrates such as insects and spiders, along with smaller geckos.

Knob-tailed gecko is amongst the largest of Australia's geckos.

Nephrurus amyae or the Knob-tailed Gecko

This bizarre looking creature has the largest head and smallest tail of all the knob tails. When threatened, the Knob-tailed Gecko will arch its back, bringing its tail over the head, making it look larger than life. It will then perform slow push ups on all four legs. If its aggressor still doesn't get the hint, the gecko may dart in for a quick bite. As with other Geckoes, the Knob Tail is an egg layer, laying two eggs at a time. More than one clutch can be produced during the breeding season.

This gecko is a nocturnal hunter, preying on anything small enough to fit in its mouth, such as cockroaches, scorpions, crickets, and even other geckoes. The Knob-tailed Gecko is found in the Arid parts of far Western Queensland, Southern
Northern Territory, and Northern South Australia. To survive the temperature extremes experienced in these areas these geckoes excavate burrows in which to live. As with other Knob tails, this gecko is mainly ground dwelling, though it will climb among rocky outcrops and slabs.

Did you know...

When threatened, the knob-tailed gecko will arch its back, bringing its tail over the head, making it look larger than life. It will then perform slow push ups on all four legs. If its aggressor still doesn't get the hint, the gecko may dart in for a quick bite.

This bizarre looking creature has the largest head and smallest tail of all the knob tails.

This gecko is a nocturnal hunter, preying on anything small enough to fit in its mouth, such as cockroaches, scorpions, crickets, and even other geckoes.

Where to spot Rough Knob-tailed Geckos in Australia:

To survive the temperature extremes experienced where it live, knob-tailed gecko excavate burrows in which to live.

Box-patterned Gecko

Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis or the Ring-tailed Gecko

The ring-tailed gecko is one of Australia's largest gecko species, growing up to 34 cm long, half of which is tail. They are attractively marked animals with broad purplish-brown bands on their pale bodies. Their habitat includes the rainforest and rocky areas of north-eastern Queensland, to the caves and rock fissures in the drier western parts of the Atherton Tableland. As with all gecko species, the ringtailed gecko is an egg layer, depositing 2 eggs at a time.

A remarkably agile gecko, it is very adept at leaping from boulder to boulder when being pursued, or when pursuing its prey. Ring-tailed geckos eat virtually any small invertebrates they can fit in their mouths, and will even prey on other small species of lizard. As with all geckoes, the ring-tailed gecko don't have eyelids. Instead, they have a transparent scale that covers their eye. They can use their long, flexible tongues to lick this scale clean. This scale, called a 'spectacle', is shed when the animal shed its skin.

Did you know...

The ring-tailed gecko is one of Australia's largest gecko species, growing up to 34 cm long.

They live in the rainforest and rocky areas of north-eastern Queensland, and the caves and rock fissures in the drier western parts of the Atherton Tableland.

A remarkably agile gecko, it is very adept at leaping from boulder to boulder when being pursued, or when pursuing its prey, which can sometimes be small lizards.

As with all geckoes, these lizards don't have eyelids. Instead, they have a transparent scale that covers their eye. They can use their long, flexible tongues to lick this scale clean.